1.) Remove the valve cover
2.) Remove the rocker shaft & pushrods. Good time to clean/inspect
3.) Drain coolant & disconnect top radiator hose from head
4.) Detach your exhaust @ the manifold.
5.) Remove your head bolts
6.) Lift the head strait off the block. With the exhaust manifold attached, it is extremely heavy. Get some help.
The three most important things with replacing the gasket are
1.) Surface prep. Make sure both surfaces are clean and free of old gasket material. Go over it with a razor blade. Make sure it is level, that your head is not warped. I have a piece of 1" thick 4x6" steel flat bar that I use. I spray-adhesive some 400 grit sandpaper onto it, and I go over both surfaces with this. This will knock down any little burrs or other things that might cause it to leak.
2.) Don't damage the gasket putting it on. Don't pinch the gasket between a corner of the head and the block putting it on. This can be hard because it's so heavy.
3.) Torque it properly. 55-65-75 sounds right, allow 30 minutes between 55 and 65, and preferably overnight between 65 and 75.
Torque in a spiral pattern from the inside out.
